McCain needs more than just desultory hard-core Republicans showing up on Election Day and voting for him.

I honestly think that McCain thought he’d automatically gotten the GOP base by default (the where else are the bastards going to go mentality that runs rampant in his inner circle). So, McCain has piddled away the campaign thus far pandering to Democrats and liberals while his own flank remains unsecured. This is very similar to the way John Kerry ran his campaign.

This arrogance continues to bite him in the rear end because the GOP base may vote for him as the least evil candidate but that doesn’t mean they support McCain or feel good about themselves for electing him. The GOP base is not mobilized to make sure that McCain gets in the White House the way they did for GWB in 2004. They are not eagerly anticipating McCain rallies. They are not talking up the merits of McCain with friends and family. They are not putting McCain signs on their front lawns or stickers on their vehicles. Quite the opposite- the GOP base is demoralized that they have such a Quisling as their candidate and are, frankly, angry with the party that the primary system delivered such a lousy product.

“It’s like the Super Bowl. If your team didn’t make it, you cheer for the team you hate less.”

(some gazillionaire radio host)

Marcus on July 2, 2008 at 9:13 PM

Yeah, but really you just watch the game and you turn it off if it isn’t close. You don’t have a Super Bowl party and you don’t buy the T-shirts and flags and banners. You don’t spend two weeks getting excited about the game and watching all the interviews and listening to the sports radio shows.

McCain needs more than just desultory hard-core Republicans showing up on Election Day and voting for him. He needs money, he needs crowds at his events, he needs enthusiastic supporters talking him up to their undecided co-workers and neighbors, he needs people walking around on the beach this summer wearing McCain hats and putting bumper stickers on their cars, he needs people calling the radio shows and talking him up. He’s not going to get any of those.

]]>By: rockmomhttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220403
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:04:31 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220403Ugh. I get more and more despondent about this election every day. My choice is between someone who is too old and full of himself and someone who is too young and doesn’t know shit. At this point even I am willing to take a second look at Hillary Clinton. At least she has some balls.

Thanks primary voters!!!

]]>By: dhunterhttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220323
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:18:20 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220323Calm down folks Jaun McCain is going easy on Obamessiah until after the Dumbs convention so that Hillary doesn’t steal the deal from a weakened saviour of all things living and a few million dead voters.

Thats what I keep telling myuself so I don’t have to face the fact that just possibly he is a cranky, arrogant old fool whos’ done everything he can to hogtie the conservatives and most of the Republican party.

But I must say the man is a war hero and if the dumbass Dems keep saying he’s not it will just make it easier for me to crawl across broken glass in a hazmat suit holding my nose with both hands to vote for the kreetin.

How about not kissing La Raza’s ass and pointing to Obama kissing it? Or about a million other things?
As MM said, it’s not the campaign, its the candidate.
I hope the Republicans turn on him at the convention.
He sucks like no other Republican that I can ever remember.

]]>By: Outlanderhttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220178
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:03:07 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220178Wrong. People like you are so invested in spewing the lies to prop up a substandard candidate that you can’t see the reality of the situation. Winning candidates do not have major shake-ups every two months. ***
highhopes on July 3, 2008 at 8:05 AM

Truer words were never spoken. The GOP’s implosion is sad. We have little effective party leadership. We’re looking at being down to as little as 41 seats in the Senate in 2009. We nominated McCain by default and have no enthusiasm in him whatsoever, in large part because he himself has no enthusiasm. And McCain is hoping to win the election by “default” if voters ultimately reject Obama. Dick Morris has said several times that this entire election is about Obama, and McCain is just “the other guy who’s running.” The whole thing really is depressing.

I’m Eeyore today, so if you’re looking for a nice, morning pick-me-up, read this post, then you’ll be sorry.
The good news is that the McCain campaign announced a huge shakeup. They’re reorganizing. That’s the good news. T…

John McCain has reshuffled his top campaign staff for the second time is a few months, elevating Karl Rove protégé Steve Schmidt to the top post.
Responding to Republican concerns that his candidacy was faltering, Mr. McCain put a veteran of Presiden…

And as for some of those people on the right who claim McCain has not done enough to reach out to them…why should he when we all know he would just draw back a nub? Really, you people just do not hear yourselves.

Terrye on July 3, 2008 at 6:42 AM

Wrong. People like you are so invested in spewing the lies to prop up a substandard candidate that you can’t see the reality of the situation. Winning candidates do not have major shake-ups every two months. McCain has two choices, start listening to the base or continue listening to those of you in deep denial about what is going on.

P.S. I really don’t mind that you are completely blinded by cranky old bastard but stop insulting the intelligence of the rest of us by declaring that our viewpoint is not valid or our intentions are not honorable.

I second that. No candidate in this race has had better campaign organization and a controlled message than Mitt. He had the best website, the 76 page pamphlet of his agenda and was unflappable in the debates. He also raised more money than any other Republican (not counting his own donations).

If McCain wants to get some momentum and look like a leader – he will pick Mitt Romney as his VEEP and he will do it tomorrow. This will give McCain several advantages:

• A week or two of free press without having to compete with the Olympics

• Free publicity during the Olympics where Romney is sure to make a few appearances visiting with associates etc.

• A head start on fund raising, if McCain takes public financing Romney could help him raise 60 million additional dollars before he does so. It seems like he is raising a lot of money for the GOP right now, but he could do a lot more if he were on the ticket.

• Waiting till after Obama picks makes McCain look weak and indecisive. I mean seriously if Obama picks a woman, then McCain will pick a woman. How bad does that look? It will make McCain’s pick look like a purely political calculation. Besides, Obama is going to pick a white man. Odds of becoming the first black president are looking pretty good for him right now, but the odds of being the first black president and the first woman vice president on the same ticket? Odds are looking worse and worse, he’ll pick a white man as his VP I can practically guarantee it.

Okay, one more, by way of explaining McCain’s bizarre trip to Colombia:

McCain went to single handedly defeat FARC and free hostages. FARC was afraid of being man-handled by McCain like that Sandanista aide in the 80’s.

Now how does that trip to Colombia look?

]]>By: canopforhttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220085
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:59:09 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220085Interesting,when I put out there as my first statement

Snake307 on July 2,2008 at 10:41PM.

Snake307: I misread your post,and have called you a Lefty
in so many words,I made a mistake,and sincerely
apologize to you.—————————:)

]]>By: Terryehttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220082
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:47:36 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220082And you something people? Calling McCain names and treating him like crap will not get him to listen to you. Complaining that the man is not your friend and does not kiss your butt when all you do is talk about how much you hate him is stupid. If I was him, I would tune out a lot of this too. No one likes to be constantly insulted.
]]>By: Terryehttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220080
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:45:22 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220080Snake:

What foreign relations experience has McCain had? A lot more than Fred Thompson or Tom Tancredo or Mitt Romney, that is for sure.

]]>By: Terryehttp://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1220076
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:42:27 +0000http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/02/shake-up-mccain-to-relaunch-campaign-next-week/#comment-1220076I don’t think much has been squandered. This campaign just goes and on anyway and there are still months ahead. A lot of people are doing their best to not think about it right now.

And the MDS people are going to squak no matter what McCain does. And the Democrats are going to vote for Obama no matter what McCain does. So, for the undecideds there is still time.

And as for some of those people on the right who claim McCain has not done enough to reach out to them…why should he when we all know he would just draw back a nub? Really, you people just do not hear yourselves.

“A Chicken In Every Pot” Orange Jumpsuits for EVERYBODY!, Screams the [NEW] McCain For Prez Campaign Staff Led By None Other Than Karl “Jumpsuit” Rove
CHAOS! At McCain-For-Prez HQ
It’s a massive FIRING. It’s a col…